18 small bombs defused in Surat

On 29 July 2008 authorities in the western city of Surat defused as many as 18 small bombs. The explosive devices were concealed inside small packages and placed in various crowded locations in the city, including at a market, in a truck, by an electrical transformer, near a police station, in a tree and under a bridge. The bombs contained explosives, a detonator and batteries, but authorities stated that no device was attached to a timer, indicating that they may have been an attempt to further increase fear and panic rather than cause serious material damage or inflict fatalities. No further information is available. Surat is located approximately 120 mi/200 km south of Ahmedabad in Gujurat state; the city is a hub for the country's diamond trade and textile industry.